Tarot Lenormand

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Tarot Lenormand by Ernest Fitzpatrick (2006) pack of 78 cards by Lo Scarabeo. 

Based on the Lenormand card deck, a oracle from nineteenth century France. named after the ‘the Sibyl of the Salons’ Madam Anne Marie Lenormand (1768-1843) of the French court, fortune teller to Napoleon, and his first wife, Empress Josephine. This deck has traditional Rider-Waite-Smith titles, except The World which is titled Man. Court Cards are Knave, Knight, Queen and King. Elements are Chalices, Wands, Pentacles and Swords. 

Ernest Fitzpatrick is the creator and artist also for The Harmonious Tarot. 

Inspiring images, beautifully portrayed in artwork. Alma de Angelus.

Whispers of Love Oracle Cards

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Review: Whispers of Love Oracle Cards - for attracting more love into your life by Angela Hartfield with artwork by Josephine Wall. Published by Blue Angel Publishing. Pack of 50 cards and 72 page booklet. £13.99 Author website: www.angelahartfield.com   Artist website: www.josephinewall.co.uk
Each of the cards carries an image, number, title and simple positive message pertaining to love and caring. Based on the Law of Attraction, you can read the cards for yourself or another person. A card for daily reading is suggested or a 3 card spread for past, present and future or a four card 'relating' spread. 

The Sorcerers Tarot

 Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: The Sorcerers Tarot by Antonella Castelli by Lo Scarabeo 2005 

Good an evil are in an eternal battle! We must get the best from our reading and from our life. Neither positive nor negative magic equates to the soul of the querent. The reader encourages the querent to take responsibility for their life and to be courageous, wise and aware. Information in the cards can be good or bad as we make it. The magic enables us to build our own destiny. Willpower, intention, determination, and ability, these create the magic in your life! Magic deals with the human soul, it exists to transform the person spiritually, though we all want circumstances to be changed, this needs to happen by a change in ourselves - our actions reflect our character and spiritual qualities. Everything is related, all circumstances come together to create a whole - just one decision can have a knock on effect. 

Sibyls Oraculum

Mind, Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: The Sibyls Oraculum - Oracle of the Black Doves of Africa by Tayannah Lee McQuillar, with artwork by Katelan V Foisy, Pack contains 44 cards and comprehensive information book. £16.99 published by Destiny Books

"There will be a coming of the day when that which is hidden shall be revealed" 

The Libyan Sibyl

The author, Tayannah Lee McQuillar is a cultural anthropologist, scholar of religion, esoterica and mysticism. She hails from New York but conducted her research in Brazil and New Orleans and has shown great expertise in her knowledge of divination from earliest antiquity in this North African study and uniquely developed card system. She is the author of  'Rootwork'.

Raven’s Wand Oracle

Mind, Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Raven’s Wand Oracle by Steven Hutton, published by US Games Systems Inc. £20.45 Boxed set of 44 cards and guidebook. Card size: 4” x 6”. 

A deck based on The Dark Raven Chronicles Trilogy storyline of witchcraft that imparts the Wisdom of the Ages. Valonia, an old sage, is head of the Wildwood Coven that hides from the Illuminati Knights in the hills of Northern England in the eighteenth century. Valonia is Keeper of the Wand - as black as a raven’s feather! Many in the Coven have specific duties and powers: Sunday Flowers for forgiveness and atonement, Evelyn Ashe for acceptance. The characters are wise yet humble, profound yet practical. There are twin dragons, Hethra Oak of Summer and Rilla Baldragon of Winter. They sleep and dream, and their dream creates the patterns of life. The witches kneel each day and touch the earth to listen to the heartbeat of the dragons. They send their hopes for love and peace within the dreams of The Twins. 

Dream Interpretation Oracle

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Dream Interpretation Oracle Cards by Luigi Di Giammarino, Text by Pierluca Zizzi. Boxed set of 36 cards plus instruction book. Published by Lo Scarabeo £14.99 

The box is attractive with silver lettering. This deck is not for divination. You don’t ask questions and get answers. The cards help you to be more receptive to dream symbols, images and concepts. 

Information is provided in English, Italian, Spanish, French, Portuguese and Russian. 

A dream diary is recommended. Go over your dream, remember as much as you can of the physical and emotional aspects. Take the entire deck of cards and lay them out, faces up. Select the cards that best apply to your dream. Put the most relevant at the top and read from the book the keywords for those cards.

Entity Possession

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: Entity Possession - Freeing the Energy Body of Negative Influences by Samuel Sagan MD published by Destiny Books, 200 pages. Author website:
http://www.clairvision.org/

This book details Dr Sagan's formulated method, described as the 'ISIS Technique' which is used for the identification and treatment of undesirable spirit based entities. Examples are given, and types of entities, fragments and cords are described. Information about Reincarnation is provided. Taoist, Indian, Jewish, and other religious movements are honoured. Dangers of entity possession are explained, such as accidents, miscarriage, abortion, shocks, drugs, surgery, etc., including losses, possessions, black magic, etc. Clearing and cleansing is described in detail and the book acts as an instruction manual. 

The New Orleans Voodoo Tarot

Mind Body & Soul Card Deck Review: The New Orleans Voodoo Tarot by Louis Martinie and Sallie  Ann Glassman, published by Destiny Books. Quality presentation drawer pull box containing comorehensive instruction guidebook and 79 cards. US $35 : Can $42 

Sample card: Congo (Water) La Sirene. “ This is the card of the mermaid. While her realm is the ocean or world womb, her human qualities give her access to the mysteries of the land. She is the great bridge between those who inhabit the fathomless depths of the seas and the creatures of dry land. She is the water form of Erzulie and Agwe is her husband. In terms of Chesed she also acts as a connection or a bridge between Agwe and La Baleine, the whale.La Baleine moves freely along the ocean floor and is privy to their secrets. From her, La Sirene has much to tell Agwe.

La Sirene, as her name implies, is a loa responsible for the sake of songs of the Voodoo ceremony. These songs combine Music and the Word to generate the fascination that so strongly focus the attention of the Voodoo devotees. Here once more, La Sirene bridges two elements, music and the spoken word. 

Her card emphasises blue, which is her colour. the card of the mermaid. The whale shown swimming behind her is La Baleine, the great Mother of the Sea. La Sirene is companion to the whale and transmits the generative power of the oceans in the sphere of the emotions. She is a creature of two worlds, bridging the gap between the solid land and the ever shifting waters. Her primary attitude her primary attribute is emotional connection. Her power is that of empathy. 

Ancient Italian Tarot

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Ancient Italian Tarot.

This is a reproduction of a Marseilles style, ancient Italian decks by Carlo Della Rocca. It is highly ornate deck from the specialist publishers, Lo Scarabeo and is a joy to work with. The Major cards have Roman and Arabic numerals and the title of each Major card is in Latin. The Minor cards are Rods, Cups, Swords and Pentacles, with seasons allotted for each. They were once related to the lion, bull, eagle and man, and to the elements, fire, earth, air and water. All cards below 6 were removed from the deck. Court cards probably finally called 'coat' cards. Mediaeval monks used a system of memory training known as mnemonics, with pictures to aid recollection. The Romany word for card deck is 'tar' from Sanskrit 'taru'. Eliphas Levy considered the tarot and Cabala were related. Papua, a doctor of medicine, published Tarot of the Bohemians, and he considered the major arcana to be a spiritual journey through ups and downs of life. A superb deck! 

Golden Art Nouveau Tarot Review

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Golden Art Nouveau Tarot by Giulia F Massaglia. Artwork by Pietro Alligo. Published by Lo Scarabeo.

This is a very elegant luxury Tarot card deck production with golden engraved style embossing on the card images. It is based on the Rider Waite Tarot deck but I think it is of greater beauty and has a more modern influence. The Art Nouveau style was a late Victorian school of art that featured elegant swirls. It had great artistic merit and is very sought after. 

All cards are individually illustrated and are easy to read. The deck is suitable for all levels, and for any client who appreciates being offered a ‘classy’ looking tarot card reading. Glamorous! Fab, fab, fab! 

The Total Tarot Course Collection profiles this card deck in its monthly packs, part 1 visit: https://totaltarotcollection.com

Gems Oracle

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Gems Oracle Cards by Bianca Luna, 32 cards published by Lo Scarabeo. £15.99 cards and booklet in English and 6 other languages. Information on how to read the cards, each gemstone has a profile with a title, number, astrology symbol, chakra and yoga asana. Also included with each card is a 30 word message, ideas for meditations with suitable questions, and the general energy of the gemstone. Excellent card stock. Cards are arranged in element suits of fire, water, earth, air. Also included are use for a talisman and ritual for charging the cards. A suggested spread for a 4 card Treasure Chest. I found this deck precise, and it condenses a great deal of information into the space available. A pleasant surprise! 

Sample card reading: Tiger's Eye is a number 10 and shows the sign of Jupiter and links to the ajna chakra. No man is an island - or woman either! Sometimes we find ourselves in a complex world, and to live happily we must co-operate peacefully with others, help them, understand them, and sometimes challenge them when they make mistakes. The tiger's eye helps us to be far-seeing into the future and helps us with accuracy. It gives us idealism and love of humanity, and ensures our actions are purposeful, clear and caring.

Celtic Tarot Review

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Celtic Tarot by Kristoffer Hughes with illustrations by Chris Down, Quality presentation boxed set of 78 cards with accompanying full colour book published by Llewellyn Publications. Cost: £22.34

This deck is designed to connect the tarot with Celtic folklore and therefore embrace the power and magic of Celtic mysteries through the medium of the tarot cards.The book includes a brief history of tarot cards and explains who the Celtic peoples were and what their mysteries entailed. Also how to work with tarot. The Kabbalah is included. Trees were important and are included as a device within readings. The major arcana is divided into three parts from the roots to trunk and then branches.

The Major cards have an image, number and title, a text of explanation for each card, a divinatory meaning and a reversed meaning. There are also keywords and a legend written from the perspective of the card itself as though a channelled message.

Land Healing Book Review

Mind Body & Soul Book Review: Land Healing - Physical, Metaphysical, and Ritual Practices for Healing the Earth by Dana O’Driscoll. Published by REDFeather Publishing. RRP US $19.99  

This is a workbook for all lovers of the land. It is transformative - and when healing the land, we heal ourselves. For healers, who want to increase their healing activity and extend it to nature, this is ideal.  Whether you live in the countryside, town or city, this is an excellent book to increase awareness with deep listening and careful observing. 

For many years, spirituality has mean many things to many people; but spirituality is now being defined by working with nature, our enjoyment of it, and the ways in which we care for it. In this book, there is excellent food for thought, meditations, blessings, rituals, sigils, visualisations, knowledge of sacred timing, herbcraft, guardianship of holy space, creating sacred items, such as a fire ceremony, a Crane Bag, smoke and prayer bundles, seed balls, and a sacred grove. 

Tarot of Pagan Cats

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Tarot of Pagan Cats By Magdelina Messina. Published by Lo Scarabeo.

Artist and creator, Magdelina Messina has created this deck for pagans, cat lovers or both! Light hearted, the deck holds wisdom and the beauty of the artwork is a joy to work with. I noticed how like cats humans are, they express emotions, thoughts and physical awareness well and we can learn a lot from them. 

Who is Lola Airaghi? 

African American Tarot Review

Mind, Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: African American Tarot - The legendary cultural identity of the Afro-Americans. Written by Jamal R with artwork by Thomas Davis, 78 cards with instruction leaflet. Published by Lo Scarabeo. Cards plus instruction insert.

The little white booklet is written in five languages (English, Italian, French, German, Spanish). The cards tell of a creation story with key concepts about traditions and associations. Each painting is traditionally African, but many cards have a smaller monochrome image of modern life and work, providing two levels of reading. There are many African animals, including rare species, beautifully produced. The artwork is original, enjoyable and stimulating. 

The Visual I Ching

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: The Visual I Ching - A New Approach to the Ancient Chinese Oracle, Boxed set of Cards and guidebook by Oliver Perrottet, published by Brockhampton Press

In the distant past, the sages of China designed a system to enable understanding that life, so full of challenges and changes, is an interaction of two opposition forces, described as Yin and Yang. These are shown as a circle , half light and half dark, with a dot of light within the dark and a dot of dark within the light. These are portrayed not only as opposing and interacting energies, but the mutual attraction between them. In writing, these are shown as a broken line for Yang and an unbroken line for Yin. A series of 6 lines is called a ‘hexagram’. 

The Lakota Sweat Lodge Cards

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: The Lakota Sweat Lodge Cards - Spiritual Teachings of the Sioux. A drawer pull presentation box containing 50 cards and information book. Published by Destiny Books. US: $34.95 : Can: $42.95 : UK: £26.77 Card size: 12cm x 8cm. 

‘Walk in balance with Mother Earth and all her inhabitants’.

Created to honour authentic traditions, with Chief Archie Fire Lame Deer as the consultant, this deck offers understanding of indigenous tribal heritage, healing and wisdom. The deck is divided into three sections: Wakan Tanka, the 16 Great Mysteries, the 8 Supernaturals, and 25 Elements of the Sweat Lodge purification ceremony which are designed for personal development. Included in the book is a loving dedication in the introduction, a poem, the Song of the Black Tail Deer, the Lodge Wheel, information about spirits, planets, elements, and knowledge of the Great Spirit that resembles all created life. 

Celtic Healing Oracle

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Celtic Healing Oracle by Rosemarie Anderson, Boxed set of 64 cards plus guidebook. Boxed set of 64 cards and guidebook. Published by Destiny Books. RRP US $19.99 : Can $24.99 : UK £16.99

Sample: No 11 Lap Dog - Hound of the Goddess. Intimacy with Self. Invoking Loving Attention. The hound of the goddess conveys gentle companionship to the inmost hopes and promptings of the human spirit. Unlike the hound of Hell, in Mediterranean mythology, the Celtic hound is kind and helpful, sitting at the goddess’s feet, resting in her lap, gazing adoringly at her, and nursing from her breasts. The lap dog brings comfort, and loving attention to our emotional and spiritual natures. Now is the greatest and auspicious time to replenish yourself. Old deep wounds are soothed and resolved without trauma, or even conscious attention. Harmful patterns and habits dissolve effortlessly. If you choose this card, you are attracting the benevolent spiritual forces of the spirit world to transform your life from within. Troublesome relationships transform themselves in healthy and beneficial ways. Drawing this card suggests that the spirit world is working to support you. Positive changes are moving within you. You only have to let the changes occur naturally. You are asked to trust. The natural cycle of death and regeneration are working quietly on your behalf. Avoid excessive activity. Try not to do too much overthinking, or wallowing in your troubles or planning the rest of your life! 

The Phoenix Cards

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: The Phoenix Cards  - Reading & Interpreting Past-Life Influences with the Phoenix Deck by Susan Sheppard. Presentation boxed set of 28 cards and instruction book. Published by Destiny Books. Card size: 14cm x 6cm. 

This divination deck is different to the usual oracle deck. Each card represents a different specialised symbol (letter). Cards are placed together to create a past life reading. The book explains how to use the cards, and there is an introduction to the topic of past lives with a creative meditation to open up the way to understanding past lives. In addition to the number and image on each card, there is a short keyphrase of 6 words and 8 categories with explanations of the Symbol, Place, Time, Groups, Language Groups, Appearance, Traits and Conclusions of each card. 

 

Templar Sanctuaries in North America

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: Templar Sanctuaries in North America - Sacred Bloodlines and Secret Treasures by William F Mann, Foreword by Scott F Wolter. Published by Destiny Books, 419 pages Paperback: £14.99 Also available in Kindle format.

The Tantric Dakini Oracle

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: The Tantric Dakini Oracle by Nik Douglas and Penny Slinger. Published by Destiny Books. 65 Cards and instruction book in quality drawer pull presentation box. US $35 : Can $39.99

“Look into the mirror of your mind - The home of the Secret Dakini.”

The sandstone Ranipur Jharial Temple in Sambalpur region of India dates from the 8th century when it was an initiation centre. It has 64 statues of the Dakini goddesses surrounding an inner court space where there is a statue of Shiva dancing. These are the inspiration for this oracle deck. 

The Dakinis are aspects of archetypal energies. They is a comparison with the Tarot and a parallel as the 22 Dakinis relate to the 22 cards of the Tarot’s Major Arcana. The further 40 cards in the Tantric Dakini Oracle relate to the Tarot’s pip cards. This deck has 4 elemental suits of 10 cards, and 3 Time Cards that represent the Past, Present and Future. 

Moon Magic

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: Moon Magic - Myth & Magic, Crafts & Recipes, Rituals & Spells by D J Conway, published by Llewellyn Worldwide, 308 pages with text and black and white sketches.
'How to Make the Moon Work for You!'

This book, written by one of the most knowledgeable persons within the pagan/Wiccan arena, explains how to use the Moon's influences in order to deepen our connection to its cycles. Our ancestors worked with planetary influences, to plant and harvest, to take action, to honour and respect the rhythms of nature, in dark, crescent and full aspects. The female author, DJ Conway, has an extensive catalogue of authored occult non fiction and occasional fictional tales.

Sex Shamans

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: Sex Shamans - True Stories of Sacred Sexuality and Awakening. Published by Destiny Books. b/w illustrations and photos. RRP US $19.99 : Can $24.99 

How to reach higher consciousness through sexuality! A great subject for a book! Many different experts have contributed and their short biography is provided. KamalaDevi McClure is the Editor. In addition, there are chapters by Bruce Lyon, Lin Holmquist, Laurie Handlers, Dr Deborah Taj Anapol, Ohad Pele Ezrahi, Dawn Cherie Ezrahi, Stephanie Phillips, Patrik Otterman, Sean O’Foolain, Ria Bloom, Raffaello Manacorda, Ellie Wilde, Stephen Soulove, Crystal Dawn Morris, Matooka MoonBear, Janine Ma-Ree, and Baba Dez Nichols. 

Topics are the initiation into the art of love, how to make love for all ages, storytelling, meditation, poetry. The text is supportive, enjoyable and interesting. 

The Tree of Life Oracle Review

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: The Tree of Life Oracle by David Wells. Published,I shed by Hay House. Boxed set of 44 cards and guidebook. RRP UK £14.99 : US $22.99 : Can $29.99

Sample card 19th Path: Strength/Lust Defending the weak, peacekeeping, sincerity.  

Here you’re confronted with your own shadow. Examine the stories you have told yourself about your life. Confront them. Be courageous and self-assured. Strength isn’t always loud. There are conditions in your life that are no longer serving you. A bitter cup is offered in these circumstances. The first sip is the regrets, but as you drink deeper, it turns into a honeyed elixir. You have removed your distasteful pride, and found what makes life sweeter. You may also find someone who needs support, perhaps defending them or lifting them up through your encouraging words and actions. Be a defender of those in need and ask what you can do to help. It may be making a donation of time, company, money, etc., you feed your soul. 

Goddess Guidance Oracle Cards

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Review: Goddess Guidance Oracle Cards by Doreen Virtue PhD Published by Hay House £13.99 for box of 44 cards plus explanatory booklet.

Always good quality card stock at Hay House. The deck is designed for divinatory use for oneself or for others. The cards are of excellent quality, the artwork is detailed and can stand the scrutiny of a jeweler's eyeglass. 44 popular Goddesses are profiled with their history and function and a channelled message from each. The book offers an alphabetical list of each of the goddesses, instructions on working with the cards, how to consecrate and store the cards, how to give a card reading (including the use of inverted cards), how to choose which goddess to work with and how to invoke the goddesses.

Eros Oracle

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Eros Oracle - 

'He loves me, He loves me not' is created by by Laura Tuan. 

The secrets and symbols of The Eros Oracle offer a key to sexuality and describes facets of love - not all hunky dory as we know! It is obviously created for women and comes in a pack of 32 cards, an explanatory booklet (as well as a little white book of five European languages) with information about how to bless the cards with a rose and candle, red hot chillies, red pepper grains and Rose Quartz. There are three suits with different coloured borders. The cards have titles, such as malice, ecstasy, possess, dominion, caress, arousal, play, jealousy and guilt. There is much beauty about the artwork which is glamourous and tasteful, and has sensitive reproductions of the female in various states of undress. It is mischievous and flirtatious, titilating and teasing. 

Tarot and the Gates of Light

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: Tarot and the Gates of Light - A Kabbalistic Path to Liberation by Mark Horn, paperback, 530 pages published by Destiny Books.

This is a workbook to assist the student to gain enlightenment through an ancient Kabbalistic cleansing ritual known as ‘Counting the Omer’. This practice traditionally began at Passover and continued for 49 days to Shavuot or what many know as Pentecost or Whit (white) Sunday. Tarot cards are used here - b/w drawings of the Rider Waite deck are provided within the text, in this newly designed method, which incorporates Jewish, Christian, Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim texts and has therefore, an ecumenical base that does not exclude anyone of these religions, or none.

Secrets of the Ancestors Oracle

Psychic News Magazine Oracle Card Deck Review: Secrets of the Ancestors Oracle by Abiola Abrams. Boxed set of 43 cards and Guidebook. Published by Hay House. RRP £17.99 (12^th March 2024)

“You are made with the legacy of love. You are stardust. You are a library. You are a sacred heir to the queendom of the Divine.”

From the inside box cover: Whether or not you know your ancestors - they know you. Spirit was our first ancestor. 

Abiola explains that we have been given a blessed assignment by our ancestors to evolve our consciousness, awaken our life purpose and clarify our truths. This Oracle helps us to do this by connecting to spirit guardians, guides and ascended masters who reveal this assignment and assist us with its undertaking. These ancestors can intercede with the Divine on our behalf to help us along this spiritual path. Our ancestors have prayed for us to connect with them and wish to show us our sacred inheritance and help us to deepen our wisdom. Our ancestors might not be blood relatives. They can be community or cultural ancestors, and can also be animals and plants that are linked to the land and which help with our healing and empowerment. One day, we will be an ancestral spirit and can start today with this responsibility. 

Secrets of the Ancestors Oracle

Mind Body & Soul Card Deck Review: Secrets of the Ancestors Oracle - Connecting to Your Family Lineage, Exploring Modern Ancestral Veneration, and Revealing Divine Guidance Cards by Abiola Abrams. Boxed set of 45 cards and guidebook. Published by Hay House. Launch March 2024 

“You are made with the legacy of love. You are stardust. You are a library. You are a sacred heir to the queendom of the Divine.” From the inside box cover: Whether or not you know your ancestors - they know you. Spirit was our first ancestor. 

We have been given a blessed assignment by our ancestors to evolve our consciousness, awaken our life purpose and clarify our truths, and this Oracle helps us to do this by connecting to spirit guardians, guides and ascended masters who reveal this assignment and assist us with its undertaking. These ancestors can intercede with the Divine on our behalf to help us along this spiritual path. Our ancestors have prayed for us to connect with them and wish to show us our sacred inheritance and help us to deepen our wisdom. Our ancestors might not be blood relatives. They can be community or cultural ancestors, and can also be animals and plants that are linked to the land and which help with our healing and empowerment. One day, we will be an ancestral spirit and can start today with this responsibility. 

The Enchanted Love Tarot

Mind, Body & Soul Card Deck Review: The Enchanted Love Tarot  - The Lover’s Guide to Dating, Mating and Relating by Amy Zerner and Monte Farber. Published by Red Feather. Boxed set of 78 cards (12.5 cm x 7.5cm) and guidebook. US $34.99 : U.K. £22.68  Visit:  https://www.theenchantedworld.net/

A beautiful romantic tapestry collection of 78 works of needlecraft art by Amy Zerner feature in this card deck of love, written by her loving husband and business partner, Monte Farber. Both are tarot experts who have produced excellent decks, such as the Enchanted Tarot, that is one of my all time favourites. This deck offers insightful and timeless spiritual advice on how to find a soul mate, how to become a better lover, how to improve relationships in general by caring and forgiving. The first part of any relationship is to know ourselves, and to get in touch with the divine within ourselves, the part that admits to mistakes, solves relationship problems with the best intentions for both parties, involves mutual decision making, making each other our priority, and become the person that God wants us to be. 

Chinese Fortune Reading Cards

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Chinese Fortune Reading Cards by Sharina Star, published by Rockpool Publishing, comprises of a set of 36 high quality cards and instruction book, both full colour, packaged in a magnetic flip top box. The book includes information on how to read the cards, with two simple layouts. Each card has a number, a title and an image, and the book provides keywords, a general interpretation, a career/finances aspect, relationship advice and a Feng Shui tip. The interpretation of the cards is advice based, very modern. It is ideal for a first ever oracle card deck; it is a young person's deck, suited to online dating user age group. 

The cards feature a brush script from the Oracle Bones Script, discovered in the Anyang capital and date to the Shang Dynasty of 1,100 years ago. They have an authentic Chinese look about the images, reds and golds predominate, and have a Chinese script on each card. Titles are, for instance, Renewal, Forgiveness, Heaven, Abundance, Wisdom, Reunion, and images feature fishing, candles, flowers, brush writing, dragon, lanterns, a Buddha image.

The Chinese Five Elements Oracle

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: The Chinese Five Elements Oracle by Vicki Iskandar, illustrations by Candice Soon. Boxed set of 60 Cards and Guidebook. Published by Hay House. Date: 10/10/2023 RRP US $29.99 : Can $39.99 : UK £15.99

60 cards represent the cycle or pillars of 10 Heavenly Stems of Yin and Yang qualities and the 5 elements of wood, fire, metal, water, and earth, which are the foundation of the Tao. 12 Earthly Branches depict animals, rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, bird, dog and pig.

The Female Archangels Oracle

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: The Female Archangels Oracle by Calista, illustrated by Marie-Joe Fourzali. Boxed set of 44 cards and Guidebook. Published by Findhorn Press.  RRP US $25.00 Can: $31.50          Open your wings and get set to fly! 

Sample: Archangel Gabriel - No 6. Speak Your Truth. Short Angel Message - Feel your feelings and say what needs to be said. Speak your Truth. Expanded Meaning: Gabriel reflects divine strength, and serves on the White and Crystalline Ray of Harmony, Purity and Communication with his counterpart, Achaia Hope. Gabriel helps us tap into our emotional strength so we can be real and honest. If you have children or work with them, ask Gabriel to help you best cater to their needs. Gabriel will help balance emotions, will aid conception and childbirth, creativity through writing and purification. Reverse Card Reading: soften your rigidity. Communicate from your heart to honour everyone and everything. Rise like an Angel -  Writing with your Inner Child. This is a cathartic exercise that can heal emotional pain and emotional vacancy. You may also find yourself more playful and buoyant. Gather paper and a pen, then ask Archangel Gabriel to sit with you. Breathe in his crystalline light to create greater honesty and understanding within your mind. Close your eyes and imagine you’re in a child. What age, size, mood, and other meaningful impressions do you see? Write it down, and invite the child to write through you. Listen as a compassionate observer. Take a breath in and read their message. Now write again from your heart in response. Swap over as many times as it feels appropriate. Stay heart centred and enjoy the space of acknowledging and sharing truth. Know your emotions do not define you, yet by listening to them, cycles of destructive behaviour can end. Give love to your inner child as you resolve to make peace with the past. No matter what happened, you don’t have to live in the painful days of the past. Ask your inner child how you can honour them in your everyday life. Then close the exercise by giving each other a big hug. As you thank Gabriel notice how different you feel. Blessing: With hands on your heart say aloud three times “by listening to my needs and following through with what supports me, I uplift the world.” 

The Stained Glass Tarot

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: The Stained Glass Tarot - An Illuminated Journey through the Cards by James Edward. A Boxed Set of 78 Cards and Guidebook. Published by Destiny Books. 

Sample of poetry: Ace of Cups: “The Ace of Cups, a chalice so bright, an invitation to emotions, and pure light, a new beginning, a fresh start, a path of love to heal one’s heart. It overflows with loving grace, this chalice, a beauty to embrace, a symbol of mercy, a symbol of peace, offering blessing both gentle and deep. It’s water so pure with gentle waves, healing and soothing, a a balm for one’s days, overflowing with passion, with hope, offering kindness and helping one cope. It is a reminder to feel and to care, to pursue one’s passions without any scare, to open our hearts to let love flow, to start a new with the Ace of Cups in tow.” 

Magnetic opening for this stylish presentation box with full colour cards and top quality guidebook. The information provided is suitable for a beginner but the deck is also useful for experienced readers. 

Celtic Goddesses, Witches, and Queens Oracle

Mind Body & Soul Ezine: Celtic Goddesses, Witches, and Queens Oracle by Danu Forest, and illustrated by Dan Goodfellow. Boxed set of 40 cards and Guidebook. Published by Schiffer Books. $29.99 ISBN: 978-0-7643-6700-7 

Expect a council of wise and powerful women from pre-Christian, Celtic cultures! Warriors, elders, lovers, and queens from Northern Europe, the islands of Britain and Ireland are featured in this delightful deck with excellent artwork and equally good write-ups on each card. We are connected to the cards through our own challenges and trials, with nature, home, sovereignty, death, healing, courage, fortitude, etc., being just some topics. We learn about background lore, the meaning and purpose, the mystery and history of these 40 powerful females, such as Brigid, Cerridwen, Danu, Epona, Macha, the Morrigan, Nimue, and some rarer female energies. 

Tarot at a Crossroads

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: Tarot at a Crossroads - The Unexpected Meeting of Tarot & Psychology by Kooch N Daniels and Victor Daniels. Published by Schiffer Books. Full colour Hardback U.K. £27.99 and US $29.99

“The whole is different from the sum of its parts.” Max Wertheimer

If you have an interest in psychology and Tarot, this is a work book to fulfil deeper levels of understanding, and will stretch you and inspire you. It provides a powerful method of conducting Tarot  readings, created with a Gestalt and psychological emphasis which produces valuable, grounded, and wise divination for clients, but can also be used for exploration and personal growth for oneself. The card images used as examples are taken from a number of different artists, but it is suggested that you work from a traditional Tarot deck, such as the Rider Waite Colman Smith Tarot deck or you can use an Oracle deck if you prefer. Which cards represent you and where you are in your life? 

Tarot of the Thousand and One Nights

Mind, Body and Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Tarot of the Thousand and One Nights, 78 individually illustrated cards with decorative miniature images from the stories of this name by Leon Carre, published by Lo Scarabeo. Between 1926 and 1929 the French painter, Leon Carre designed the art for the Arabian Tales, One Thousand and One Nights working alongside Algerian miniaturist Mohammed Racim. In 2004, the beauty of Middle Eastern culture was brought to this deck. A little white booklet is included in the pack with a few words of divinatory meaning for each card in English and 4 other languages. 

The wonderful collection of Middle Eastern tales were written in Persia in the 10th century. Antoine Galland in 1700s to the French court of the Sun King translated this story. The wicked Sultan has an endless stream of brides who come to his chamber each night. After the wedding night is over, he kills them. But the clever Scheherazade weaves an endless story of Aladdin, Sinbad and Ali Baba that hold his attention night after night. He falls in love with her and spares her life and they live happily ever after - so the story goes! The original Arabic texts were translated in 1949 by Francesco Gabriela. 

Cards by Christie Astell

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Review: The Angel Deck - 50 messages from the angels we meet everyday by Chrissie Astell Published by Octopus Books £12.99 Strong lift top uncrushable box and high quality large card stock with information which includes how to use the cards and offers story, poem, prayer, visualisation or meditation and includes what angels are, advice from the angels by the author and sections on the 'role of angels' and 'loving power' with illustrations in the public domain. These are sorted again by way of card five titles, such as Angel Reassurance, Angelic Connections, Angels in Action, Angelic Guidance and Angel-being. Though the cards can be used as a 'card for the day' guidance, I have decided to send one to friends in the post as a change from sending a greeting card this Christmas. Each card can stand alone and provide some upliftment for those who are unwell or going through a period of difficulty. 

The Victorian Steampunk Tarot

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: The Victorian Steampunk Tarot – Unravel the Mysteries of the Past, Present and Future, by Liz Dean and illustrated by Bev Speight. Published by Cico Books. The magnetised flip lip box includes a full deck of 78 tarot cards and a full colour explanatory booklet of each card.
The deck is very loosely based on the Rider-Waite deck but each card carries an individual computer graphic artwork to express the spirit of Victorian steampunk, the age of steam with modern counter culture anything is possible, plasma screens, hot air balloons, the era of Jules Verne, Mary Shelley, Edgar with, for instance, clockwork hearts and butterflies, deconstructed burlesque and brass spyglasses. The cards can be interpreted either upright or upturned thought the backs are intended for exclusively upright use. 

 

Rackham Tarot card deck review

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Rackham Tarot. 78 full colour individual cards. Published by Lo Scarabeo.

With illustrations from the artwork of Victorian illustrator Arthur Rackham, born 1867, Rackham illustrated A Midsummer Night's Dream, Grimms Fairy Tales, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens, Tales of Mystery & Imagination, the Legend of Sleepy Hollow and a Christmas Carol. The late 19th century was known as 'the Golden Age of Illustration' with highly imaginative artists, such as Walter Crane and Aubrey Beardsley. Arthur Rackham’s extraordinary work was the most sought after. 

Jungian Tarot Psychology Book Review

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: Tarot Psychology - A Practical Guide to the Jungian Tarot by Robert Wang, published by Urania. Book has b/w scans of the cards, the title of the card, a subtitle of the archetype and a write-up of approx 600 words on each Major and approx 400 on the other cards. 

Botanical Inspirations

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Botanical Inspirations Deck and Book Set by Lynn Araujo, published by US Games Systems, Inc. Boxed set of 44 cards plus guidebook and pull out chart and card bag.

Full colour prints of illustrative paintings of 44 different flowers with the common name, Latin or other name, with keywords and a quotation. The booklet provides symbolism, flower lore, legend, hidden messages and affirmations. A Three-card reading and the Past, Present and Future reading is provided with examples. One card can be used for daily inspiration. Pick a card at random, look at the image and message. Close your eyes and meditate and make this image come alive. As it grows in your mind's eye, reach out your hand to feel its petals, put your face to the flower, feel its coolness on your brow, put it to your lips and feel its texture! Every day you choose a card, you will be given the gift of this flower until you choose another!

The Grail

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Reviews: The Grail - The Celtic Origins of the Sacred Icon by Jean Markale

This story makes its debut during 1180-1190 in the Champagne region of France. Chretien from the town of Troyes nearby wrote the story of the Grail for Marie, the daughter of the great Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine. She instigated the most fashionable court, with artists, minstrels and troubadours, of which Chretien was her most famous entertainer. The story is about a wondering innocent young knight who experiences many adventures that include rewards, obstacles, mistakes, difficulties and good fortune. 

Markale always comes up with surprises and this is an ideal story for him to address the many enduring questions that this story raises. All his books are steeped in magic and wonder. Poetry in prose!

Reviewer Wendy Stokes https://wendystokes.co.uk 

Divine Circus Oracle Cards

Mind, Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Divine Circus Oracle Cards by Alana Fairchild, Boxed set of 44 cards plus instruction book, published by Blue Angel Publishing £17.99 

I like Alana Fairchild’s work and I have a love of the circus; the two are nicely combined in this deck of oracle cards. The philosophy is that of the playful and joyful party, the rebel, the creative, the spontaneous and the daring. Breaking free of the hum drum, the deck provides an alternative way of being confident, trusting your intuition and living an inspired life. For the irreverent, the naught and the risk takers! 

Information on how to use the deck, a ritual for blessing the cards, four suggested spreads: The Clown Nose 1 Card, the Strong Man 5 cards, the Flying Trapeze 5 cards, and the Bearded Lady 5 cards. 

Movie Tarot

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Movie Tarot – A Hero’s Journey in 78 cards, illustrated by Natalie Foss and written by Diana McMahon Collis. Published by Laurence King Publishing, Boxed set of instruction booklet and 78 cards. Card size: 6.5” x 4.5” RRP UK £14.99 : US $17.99

Each card of the Major Arcana depicts the steps of the ‘Fool’s Journey’ also known as the ‘Hero’s Journey’ as the 22 energies are shown as heroic characters from popular films. In tarot tradition, the fool who embarks upon life, and has many hardships, joys and learning experiences, eventually to become mature, and be able to express spiritual values and empathy with others who are enduring difficulties.

Divine Circus Oracle

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Divine Circus Oracle by Alana Fairchild and published by Blue Angel Publishing £15.99, a boxed set of 44 cards and guidebook with artwork by Maxine Gadd, Gracjana Zielinska, Melanie Delon, Nell Fallcard, Anna Marine, Lunar Sparks, Yeuchui Tang, Monique Tulp, Babette Van Den Berg. 

Cirque de Soleil style fashion and visage, these are 44 personalities of the circus ring who help you unleash your inner creative! The persona is a mask we wear and these masks inspire and entertain and allow you to step outside the everyday world into one of imagination and wonder. This is the place of dreams and the entrance to the Otherworld - the magic of the circus tent. The idea is that love triumps over fear and sadness, that we can all make someone 's day a happy one. There are no rules in this game! You work with intuition and a few guidelines from the book. Ask a question and choose a card. A ritual is provided to maximise the potential magic of the cards. Dedicate the cards, use words provided at each reading or make up your own. All cards are to be read upright.

The Zerner/Farber Tarot

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: The Zerner/Farber Tarot by Amy Zerner & Monte Farber. Quality presentation box containing full colour guidebook and 78 cards. Published by REDFeather Publishing. £29.99 release date: April 2023

These cards have extraordinary fabric and collage images, created by Amy Zerner, an award winning artist. Her husband and co-creator has supplied the text, which I can recommend as insightful and wise in helping to get the best from a reading. Together they have produced other excellent tarot publications: Enchanted Tarot, Instant Tarot, Enchanted Love Tarot, Creativity Oracle and the Enchanted Worlds Book. 

The Tarot of Light and Shadow

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: The Tarot of Light and Shadow by John Matthews and Andrea Aste. Boxed set of explanatory book and two sets of tarot cards. Card size: 4.inches by 2.5 inches. Published by Watkins Publishing. 

This pack contains a double deck and all the information you need to use them in readings. Using both decks allows the reader to see both sides of a question. This is a unique pack of the two decks, one for positive situations and the other for a more challenging situation. Certainly, you will be enabled to give extraordinary readings from this double deck. No-one else will be able to give readings like this! If you want to be a one-off reader, like no other, this pack will provide it. 

Higher Reality Therapy

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: Higher Reality Therapy - Nine Pathways to Inner Peace By Anthony Falikowski Visit: www.falikowski.com

The psychiatrist, William Glasser developed Reality Therapy in the US in the mid 1960s and it was especially successful for those who did not respond to more conventional methods of therapy. The approach, mainly based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) focuses on negotiated ways to create improvements in current behaviour. 'Higher' Reality Therapy is an eclectic approach to a similar goal of problem solving. Reality Therapy, as devised by William Glasser is criticised rather severely but taken as the basic premise and improved upon to create 'Higher' Reality Therapy.

Fingerprints of the Gods

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: Fingerprints of the Gods - A Quest for the Beginning and the End by Graham Hancock published by Arrow, Author Website: www.grahamhancock.com

This outstanding author takes the reader on many wonderful journeys to fascinating places. We find so many coincidences and connections across the world, whether in Central America, Egypt, India, Turkey or Sumer. We are introduced to incredible archaeological possibilities - that our most ancient cultures drew on an even older and wiser source, with knowledge of pi, perfect geometry and mathematics, longitude, and the precession of the equinoxes. We are asked so many amazing questions: Were the Olmecs older than the Mayans and who was responsible for the creation of the long chain calendar? 

Sacred Sites Oracle Cards review

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Sacred Sites Oracle Cards - Harness Our Earth's Spiritual Energy to Heal Your Past, Transform Your Present and Shape Your Future by Barbara Meiklejohn-Free, with illustrations by Yuri Leitch. A set of 53 cards plus full colour guidebook in a drawer pull crush proof box. £14.99 Published by Watkins Publishing. The deck is divided into four colours, representing the directions of North, East, South and West, and each card has a symbol related to it and depicts a lower, middle and upper World area (the past, present and potential). You are guided how to use the cards for greatest benefit. The book offers an array of ceremonies, prayers, meditations, and exercises. Prepare yourself for a sacred site visit and take the cards withi you; the energies in ancient sites are kept special only by those who visit them with calm connection and respect.
"Disperse, dissolve, cleanse and clear, make space for divine guidance here'.